5 Smart Tips For Staying Active Over The Winter Holidays

When the temperature drops, it’s easy to fall into the habit of staying indoors and pushing your fitness goals to the backburner.

That’s understandable – a night in with Netflix can seem a lot more appealing than trekking out to the gym in the cold. But that doesn’t mean you should give up on your exercise routine when winter rolls around. In fact, this is the perfect time to inject a little fun into your workout and try new things. Here are some fun and easy ways to break a sweat over the winter break!

Take a walk

Even something as simple as walking can help you stay active. If you’re living in residence, grab your roommate and head outside. You might be surprised at how refreshed you’ll feel. Plus, the scenery and sparkle that comes with winter often provides plenty of Instagram-worthy photos. Not in the mood for a cold walk? Take a walk indoors at a mall instead and finish up your holiday shopping.

Use what you have

As a student, there is no better time to take advantage of the facilities available to you. Campus gym memberships are usually offered to students at a discount or included in tuition. Also, many college and university gyms offer a wide variety of fitness classes, athletic clubs, and intramural leagues for their students. You’re bound to find something that works for you.

Tip: Find an exercise buddy. You’re less likely to cancel a planned workout when you have someone counting on you.

Work hard, play hard

It’s important for students to find a balance between work and life. Of course, your grades are essential to your success, but so is having fun! Instead of heading to the gym after a long study session, gather some friends, layer up, and go outside. From snow angels to snowball fights, playing in the snow is a great way to de-stress and add a little cardio to your routine.

Make yourself at home

For the days when you don’t want to make the cold trip to the gym, why not workout at home? You can find a ton of great workouts online, many of which you can complete in your dorm room using just your body weight. If you want to amp up the intensity, invest in a few pieces of fitness equipment like a jump rope, a stability ball, or a set of dumbbells.

T’is The Season

Winter brings a whole new season of cold-weather activities to participate in, such as skating, skiing, and snowshoeing. It’s a great time of year to look into the events your school is organizing – ski trip anyone? And we know it’s fun to cheer on your school hockey team, so why not sign up for an intramural hockey league yourself? Or, if competitive sports aren’t your thing, take the chance to explore your community. Rent some snowshoes and hike a trail or grab a hot chocolate and find a public skating rink.

Tip: Don’t forget your water bottle! It’s just as important to stay hydrated during the winter as it is in the summer.

With so many ways to stay active during the winter holidays, ‘baby it’s cold outside’ is not an excuse to enter into hibernation mode. Instead, hold yourself accountable to your fitness goals this winter by modifying your routine.

About the author

Emma Floyd
is a graduate of Trent University and Humber College, holding a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Certificate in Copywriting. She’s an Instagram enthusiast and a sucker for a good pun. In her spare time you can often find her snapping photos of the city and exploring it with her sister. Follow her @emmalfloyd or connect with her on LinkedIn.